Transfer mechanism for cigar machines



Jan, 23, 1945. H, H. WHEELER v TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR CIGAR MACHINESOriginal Filed Jan. 5; 1938 4 Sheets-Shgef. 1

[id [id 1;] 152 INVENTOR H RY H.W

ATTORNEY HEELER Jan., 23, 1945. H. H. WHEELER 2,367,913

TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR CIGAR MACHINES Original Filed Jan. 5, 1938 4Sheets-Sheet 2 fig;

INVENTOR H NRY H.WHEELER ATTORN EY Jan. 23', 1945. H. H. WHEELERTRANSFER MECHANISM FOR CIGAR MACHINES Original Filed Jan. 5, 1938 4Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR HINRY H.WHEELER A zzw ATTORNEY Jan. 23, 1945. H.H. WHEELER 2,367,913

TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR CIGAR MACHINES Original Filei Jan. 5, 1938 4Sheets-Shet 4 iNVENTOR HE H.WH LER ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 23, 1945TRANSFER DIECHANI SM FOR CIGAR MACHINES Henry Wheeler, 'Bellerose, N.Y., assignor to International Cigar Machinery Company, a

corporation of New Jersey Original application 'Ja 183,405. Divided annuary 5, 1938, Serial No. (I this application January 1, 1942, SerialNo. 425,319'

6 Claims.

This invention relates to cigar machines, and more particularly totransfer mechanism for transferring bunches and cigars to and from theseveral manipulating mechanisms of the machine. This inventionconstitutes a division of my co-pending application-Serial'No. 183,405filed January 5, 1938, for High speed cigar machines, now Patent No.2,316,828, issued April'ZO, 1943.

It has been found that in sprocketand chain operated types of transfersheretofore used in cigar machines for the transfer of bunches to thewrapping station, and of cigars from the wrapping station, the chainswhich were used to operate the transfers have-a tendency to stretch andthey, therefore, play an important partin the accuracy of the grippersof the transfers. Obviously, if after continued use a chain were tostretch, the point at which the grippers became operative would not betrue, and they would either release or grip prior or subsequent to theirpredetermined point of operation. Also, dueto the open construction ofthe transfers considerable dust and dirt and grit accumulate thereon,and have an appreciable effect upon the'wear thereof and the efilciency,as well as giving them an untidy appearance.

According to the present invention, marked improvements have been madein the transfer structure since the chains and sprockets mentioned abovehave been eliminated, and replaced by simple shafts and suitable pinionsthereon; and all driving mechanism has been enclosedso that there islittle or no danger that dirt, dust or grit will accumulate on thetransfer and, furthermore, exceptional accuracy necessarily resultsbecause of the elimination of mechanism which was responsible for thisdefect.

The invention also consists in the provision of a novel type ofelongated article transfer means wherein all of the operating structureis enclosed, thereby preventing the accumulation of dust and dirt on thetransfer operating'mechanism.

It is an additional object to provide a new and improved cigar and bunchtransfer, having totally enclosed operating parts, and gears forinsuring parallel motion of the article holding means thereof in placeof sprockets "and chains, which results in more accurate control andpermits enclosure of the operating mechanism With a minimum of bulk.

It has been found advisable to prevent waste of Wrappers which are to beapplied to bunches in the rolling machines in the event that a bunchis'not fed to the rolling machine for association with the wrapper andhence means have been provided for interrupting the wr apper'feedwhenever-a bunch is not located to "receive a wrapper.

It is'a further purpose of the invention to associate with the bunchtransfermechanism a 'de vice which'cooperates with the-wrapper feed toprevent th feed 'of wrappers I to thewrapping station whenever theabsence of a'bun'ch is d9:- tected in the bunch transfer.

A further object of this invention istofiprovide an electricallycontrolledmeans' to prevent transfor of wrappers from the die "tocarrier when :there is no bunch transferred to the wrapping device,thereby preventing waste of expensive wrappers.

It is afurther'object of therinventionto provide .means for maintainingthegripper'sof the improved cigar and bunch transfersinsuch a'positionthat cigars. and bunches are-always .heldin a horizontal position.

It is also an object of'the invention to provide means for adjusting thelimits of travel .of the bunch and cigar transfer devices, and t-to alsoprovide improved means for .preventingtravel of .these transfers beyondsaid limits.

It is a further object of the invention topicvide a detecting meanslocated on the bunch transfer which determines the presence :or absenceof a bunchin said transfer.

It isa further object of theinvention to provid detecting means fordetermining the presence or absence of a bunch in a bu'nchtrans'fer andmeans associated therewith .fonprevc'nting feed of wrappers to the cigarrolling mechanism whenever it is indic'at'ed'th'at a hunch is nonpresentin said "transfer to receive said wrappers. ,7

With these and other objects, not specifically mentioned, in view,theinvention consists of ce tain constructions and combinations whichwill be set forth more in detail in the specification and then describedmore fully'in-theclaims hereuntoappended.

'In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,andlinwhichilike characters of reference indicate the same 'crli'ke.?elements: -Figure 1 is a front elevation of m-yimproved.cigar.rol1ing machine;

.Figure'2 is a side elevationof the same,-on lines 2-2 of Figure 1; Y

Figure '3 is aside elevationonlline -3 3.of Figure 1 showing thecarrierportion of the bunch transfer, with a cigar'bunch in position;

Figure 3a is a side elevation similartofigure 3,"but with transferempty; as

Figure 3b is'a side elevation similar to Figure (not shown) 3a, showingspecific details of the transfer head;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the bunch and cigar transfer assemblyprovided with transfers which transfer bunches and cigars from onemanipulating part of the machine to another;

Figure 5 is a sectional end elevation of the same, on lines 5-5 ofFigure 4;

Figure 6 is a sectional end elevation of the same, on lines -6 of Figure4;

Figure '1 is a top View from line 1-1 of Figure 4;

Figure 8 is a sectional plan view on line of Figure Figure 9 is an endelevation of the bunch transfer portion of Figure 5 showing a modifiedform of bunch transfer; and

Figure 10 is a sectional plan view on line I0-I0 I of Figure 9.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the improved cigar rolling machineconsists of a bunch transfer I I which picks up the finished bunches Bfrom a bunch making machine, which may be either a long or a shortfiller bunch machine (not shown) and carries them along the pathindicated by the arrow I3 in Figure 2 to the rolling device I4 in whicha cigar wrapper cut on the diev I5 by the cutting rollers I6 and broughtinto position by the wrapper carrier I1, guided by cams I8 and I9, iswound around the bunch. The tuck end of the wrapper is placed on thebunch by the tuck needle in the conventional manner, and its flag end,to which a dab of paste has been applied by the pastor 2| on its way tothe wrapping device, is expelled from the carrier by a blow-off 22,which may be of the type shown in United States Patent No. 2,215,490granted September 24, 1940, to Henry H. Wheeler. A cigar transfer 23then transports the wrapped cigar C along path 24 (Figure 1) to reroller25 in which the wrapper is smoothed and the softened cigar, after beingtrimmed to size, 'by knives (not shown) and treated by a knurler (notshown) is discharged from the cradle 26 to be collected and given afinishing touch in the hand knurler 21 by the operator.

The construction of the rolling device I4 in the embodiment hereinillustrated is similar to that disclosed in co-pending application,Serial No. 107,792 filed October 2'1, 1936, by James P. Durning, nowPatent No. 2,290,171, issued July 21, 1942; while the wrapper carrier |1may be of the type described in my co-pending application above referredto. The paster 2| may be similar in construction to that shown in theUnited States Patent No. 2,012,149, issued August 20, 1935, to Henry H.Wheeler, and therefore, further detailed description of these mechanismsis believed unnecessary.

In the embodiment selected for illustration, the machine is driven by amotor 28, controlled by a starting switch 30, through a clutch 29 whichis electrically controlled by conveniently located hand switches 3|, 32and by foot pedal switches 33 and 34, and limit switch I61, the formeractuated by the operator of the rolling machine and the latter by theoperator of the bunch machine For convenience in installing andsubsequent check up, a jogging or inching switch 35 is provided, bywhich the machine can be advanced step by step through increments of a,cycle, for checking on the timing, and for making other adjustments ofthe different parts whenever necessary. This mechanism forms no part ofthis invention and, therefore, further description and disclosure isdeemed unnecessary.

The operating units of the 4 machine are mounted on a base plate 36suitably supported by side frames 31, 38 and by an end frame 39 whichare completely covered by metal sheeting 40. The side frames 31, 38support a cam shaft 4| and fulcrum shafts 42, 43, 44, 45 and 46, theinner ends of shafts 42 and 43 being supported in housings 41 and 48,respectively, attached to base plate 36. The side frame 38 also carriesthe bracket 49 on which the motor 28 is mounted. The metal sheetingwhich encloses the front and sides of the machine preferably isremovably mounted in order, both to enhance the appearance thereof, andprovide accessibility to the working parts for repairs, etc.

The-cam shaft 4| has a worm wheel 50 driven by a worm 5| on a hollowshaft 52 supported in the housing 53 of wheel 50. The shaft 52 isconnected by a coupling 54 of conventional design, to the hollow shaft55 of the clutch 29, a solid shaft 56, passing through shafts 52 and 55,being coupled to a shaft 51 supported by the clutch housing 29 andcarrying a pulley 58 driven by a belt 59 from the pulley 60 of the motor28. On the bunch transfer I I is mounted a balance arm I50, (Figures 1and 2) held by a spring I5I in its up-position I50 in which, on theswinging of the transfer along path I3 (Figure 2), it engages the nose|52 of an arm I53 affixed to a vertical shaft I54 extending frompedestal I4I. In its up-position, the lower end of the balance arm I50rests on a plunger I55 (Figure 3a, and 31)) carrying a toggle joint I55which is then in its down-position with transfer fingers I51 locatedapart for the entry of a cigar bunch B. In entering the fingers I51, thebunch 13 trips the toggle I56, thereby raising the plunger I55 andturning the balance arm I50 into its down-position in which it clearsthe nose I52 when the transfer arm II is moved through its prescribedarc. In the down or bunch delivery position the tail portion of arm I50engages stationary member 22a on blow-off 22 (Figure 1) which depressesplunger I55 and opens jaws I51 to release a bunch held therebetween.

When at any time the transfer fails to pick up a bunch, the toggle I56is not tripped, balance arm I50 remains in its up-position I50, andshaft I54 will be rotated through a given angle by the arm I53. On thelower end of shaft I54 is attached a switch I58 which is held open bythe shaft I54 when the arm I53 is in its normal undisturbed position.If, however, as stated above, the shaft I54 is moved by the balance armI50, switch I58 closes contact I59 which is con nected in series with atiming or limit switch I 60, and with a solenoid IBI, the limit switchbeing closed by the raising of a spring-tensioned roller I62 through itsengagement with a cam piece I63, attached to the periphery of cam 82.The solenoid I6I when energized at the proper moment by the coaction ofswitches I58 and I60, pulls a lever I64 pivoted on a stud in bracket I65into the path of the lifter lever I25 actuating the rod I21 whichoperates the lifter head I28 and transfers the cut wrapper from the diel5 to the wrapper carrier I1, thereby preventing spring I25 from raisingthe same to. effect such transfer.

Referring to Figure 2, it will be seen that when wrapper carrier I1 isin wrapper receiving position over a die I5. head I28 is lifted todeliver transfer member.

bolt"268. on shaft 255 i 'turnably mounted the nected at one end to rodI21, and provided with a cam follower M4 on its other end tracking a cam85 which lowers the head after delivery of a Y wrapper.

Thus, there is provided an automatic inspecting mechanism which detectsthe presence or absence of bunches in the transfer device. By means ofthis device the feed of wrappers to the rolling or wrapping mechanism isso controlled that a wrapper cannot be transferred from the cutting diefor transfer to the wrapping station unless a bunch has indicated itspresence in the bunch Obviously, this makes possible an appreciablesavings in the wrappers which are an expensive item in cigarmanufacture, since it prevents the waste of the wrappers fed to therolling mechanism whenever a bunch is not transferred thereto forassociation with the particular wrapper. This structure, therefore, addsmuch to the efficiency and practicality of the machine, and tends tolower the cost of production of the cigars made thereon.

The cam 82 carries a cam piece I63, the latter opening a limit switchI67, through engagement with a follower E58 carried by said switch andthereby stops the machine at the end of each cycle of the machine. Thelimit switch IE1 is shunted by a circuit containing the foot switches 33and 31 3- in series so that the latter can start the machine from zero(provided the manual switche BI and 32 are closed), but, if releasedduring a cycle, cannot stop it until the cycle is completed.

The transfer mechanism of this invention,

=while readily useable on any cigar machine, is

especially well adapted for use on a machine such as shown in myco-pending application, above referred to. Due to the fact that thebunch and cigar transfer mechanism I I and 23, respectively, are mountedto operate in a single pedestal I4I located on the table of the cigarrolling machine,

there is no necessity for changing and adjusting the bunch transferstructure except for the gripper heads since they have been designed tofunction with either a long or a short fillerbunch forming device. Thishas also been brought about by the fact that the point of transfer ofthe bunches from the cigar bunch shaping units of the short filler unit,and the forming device of a long filler machine will occupy the samerelation with respect to transfer arm I I regardless of the combinationof units used, Whereby'the arm I i remains of constant length in eithercombination. Neither the short nor the long filler bunch formingmechanisms are shown since they .form no part of this invention.

The construction of the bunch and cigar transfer, which carries thecigar bunches from the bunch machine to the wrapper applying device ofthe rolling machine, and after wrapping transfers the cigar to thereroller, is shown in Figures 4 to 10.

The rack I49, which is actuated by cam lever 30 on shaft 33 and guidedby a flanged wheel 263, engages a gear 264 on a shaft 265 supported inpedestal MI. The guide wheel 253 is mounted on an eccentric stud 266,thus permitting accurate adjustment of the tooth engagement. The shaft265 passes through the hub of a bevel gear 26'! which is held fast topedestal MI by a flanged hub of the hollow arm II in which .is journaleda shaft 26!! carrying at its ends :bevel gears 210 and 2'. 'Shaft 265has a crank :arm 272 which is detachably connected to arm II by means ofa spring-tensioned, ball-top plunger 21.3 fitting into a stell socket214 inserted into the hub flange of arm II. The gear 270 at the innerend of shaft 269 meshes With the fixed gear .261, and the gear 2II atits outer end engages with ,a gear 215 on a horizontal shaft 216journaled in arm II and carrying the bunch holder 211. The turning ofthe gear 270, as it rolls on'the stationary gear 261, rotates thehorizontal shaft 216 by an angle equal to that through which the arm IIis moved by the crank 212, thus keeping the bunch holder .21! in itsvertical position'at all times and at any angle of arm I I. There-'fore, when a bunch or cigar is-t0 be lifted or delivered, the grippersare always properly positioned for correct operation. The arm II has twoadjustable stop s-crews2l8, one of which en.- gages with a stop 279 ineither position II or II" of the transfer arm, corresponding to thespaced positions B, B (Figure 4) of the cigar bunch, in

the bunch machine turret and in the wrapping ment with a gear 282 on ashaft 283 by a flanged wheel 284 on an eccentric st-ud 285. The shaft283 passes through the hub of a bevel'gea-r 286, held stationary inpedestal I M by a screw 28?, and carries the transfer arm'23, the stopscrews 288 of which engage with a stop 289 at its end position,corresponding to the positions 0 and C (Figure 5) of the cigar in thewrapping device and in the rero-ller, respectively. The arm 23 has theshafts 290 and 129i with the bevelgears 292, 293 and 284, the horizontalshaft 29I having .a cross stud 295 loose inits fork end 29-5 carryingthe cigar holder jaw 29? which is held tension by'a spring 298 pressingagainst pins 299 and 30.0,

and which is opened and closed against a stationary cigar holder plate530i attached to fork 296,

by a pin 302 in a collar 303 fast on stud 295,-the said pin beingcontrolled by a cam piece 304 attached to arm 23.

Under some conditions it may be necessary to swing a bunch through intransferring it from one position to another. For example, when thetransfer is used in a short filler bunch com bination (not shown), thecigar bunch B is turned through a right angle while being transferredfrom the bunch machine to the rolling machine. The horizontal shaft 216of the transfer arm II carries a bevel gear 305 (Figures 9 and 10) fixedto said shaft and meshing with a gear 306 on the holder 21! which inthis case is loose on a vertical core 301 clamped to the' end of shaft216. The tooth ratio of gears 305 and 30B is so chosen that gear 305normally moves one-quarter revolution as gear 305 turns through an areequal to that between the extreme position B-B' of transfer arm II, i.e., the arc'indicated by arrow I3 in Figure 4. As described hereinabovespring overthrow plunger 2'13 operates to prevent movement of gear 305greater than 90 if for any reason rack I49 swings arm II beyond its setlimits of movement.

The shaft I54 of arm I53 is held in position through friction producedby a spring 308 pressing on the clamp 309 carrying the switch I58 whichwhen turned by arm I53, connects the insulated terminals on contactpiece I59. The nose I52 is held against a projection on arm I53 by aspring 3I0, permitting the balance arm I50 to continue its forwardmotion by turning the nose out of the way after the switch I59 hascontacted, and to reengage the same on its return motion so as to turnarm I53 back into neutral position.

It is to be noted that the transfer mechanism for conveying bunches andcigars to and from the various operating stations of the machine aresubstantially entirely enclosed and are extremely simple in constructionand operation. This makes possible a more efficient transfer than knownheretofore, and insures greater wearing qualities for the parts makingup their organization, since dirt, dust and possible abrasives, whichare often present in tobacco, cannot get into the working parts of thetransfer. Furthermore, the safety of anOPBIfltOr is greatly increaseddue to the enclosing of all parts so that it is impossible for her tocome into contact with said parts. Also, the cleaning of this mechanismcan readily be effected without danger of clogging any of the partssince it merely requires a wiping of plain, rounded exterior surfaces.

The mechanism above described may be varied in construction within thescope of the claims hereunto appended, since the particular deviceselected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possibleconcrete embodiments thereof. The invention is not, therefore, to berestricted to the precise details of the structure shown and described.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cigar machine, a rolling station, a wrapper cutting die, awrapper carrier, means for delivering wrappers from said die tosaidcarrier, a transfer for conveying bunches to said station, mechanism forincapacitating said delivery means, including a control arm yieldablymounted on said transfer, and means coacting with said arm to preventthe operation of said delivery means whenever no bunch is carried bysaid transfer.

2. Mechanism for interrupting the feed of wrappers to a wrapping unit ofa cigar machine, comprising a wrapper carrier constructed and arrangedto deliver wrappers to said unit, a device for feeding wrappers to saidcarrier, a bunch transfer, grippers mounted on said transfer, togglemembers controlling said grippers, a pin connected to said members, anarm on said transfer, means yieldably mounting said arm on said transferto engage said pin, and means located for engagement by said arm toincapacitate said device and prevent delivery of a wrapper to saidcarrier whenever no bunch is carried by said transfer.

3. In a cigar machine having a bunch wrapping mechanism, a transfer fortransferring cigars from said wrapping mechanism, and bunch formingmechanism, a transfer device for transferring bunches to said wrappingmechanism, a wrapper carrier, a device for feeding wrappers to saidcarrier, control mechanism for incapacitating said device and preventingfeed of wrappers to said carrier whenever no bunch is carried by saidtransfer to said wrapping mechanism, said control mechanism comprising atrip carried by said transfer which carries bunches to said wrappingmechanism, an electric control circuit coacting therewith, and meansoperated by said trip for closing said circuit.

4. In a cigar machine, bunch rolling mechanism, a wrapper cutting die, awrapper carrier movable between said die and mechanism, a transfer forconveying bunches to said mechanism, means for delivering wrappers fromsaid die to said carrier, means constructed and arranged to preventdelivery of a wrapper to said carrier whenever no bunch is carried bysaid transfer, said means comprising a trip arm, an electric circuit, aswitch in said circuit arranged to be closed by said arm whenever nohunch is carried by said transfer, a lever controlling the movement ofsaid delivery means, and means for locking said lever against movement.

5. In a cigar machine, rolling mechanism, a wrapper cutting die, awrapper carrier movable between said die and mechanism, a transfer forconveying bunches to said mechanism, means for delivering wrappers fromsaid die to said carrienmeans constructed and arranged to preventdelivery of a wrapper to said carrier whenever no bunch is carried bysaid transfer, said means comprising a trip arm, a switch arranged to beclose-d by said arm whenever no bunch is carried by said transfer, alever controlling the movement of said delivery means, a member movableto lock said lever against delivery movement, and a solenoid controlledby said switch for effecting said movement.

6. In a cigar machine, a rolling unit, a leaf sectioning device, atransfer for conveying bunches to said unit, a carrier for deliveringleaf sections from said device to said unit for association with a bunchtherein, mechanism for transferring leaf sections from said device tosaid carrier, means for swinging said carrier to and from receiving anddelivery positions, a device mounted on said transfer for detecting thepresence or absence of bunches in said transfer, and means projectinginto the path of travel of said transfer for incapacitating saidmechanism to prevent the feed of a leaf section to said carrier wheneverno bunch is carried by said transfer, said means comprising an electriccircuit, a shaft, an arm mounted on said shaft, switch mechanism in saidcircuit carried by said shaft, said device being arranged to rock saidshaft and close said switch to close said circuit whenever no bunch iscarried by said transfer.

HENRY H. WHEELER.

